How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

Crizotinib belongs to the group of cancer-fighting medications known as antineoplastics and more specifically to a class of medications called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These medications slow the growth of blood vessels that feed nutrients to cancer cells. By slowing the growth of these blood vessels, crizotinib can help reduce the size of tumours.

Crizotinib is used to treat a certain type of cancer of the lymphatic system (called anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive) that cannot be cured by surgical removal and non-small-cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Crizotinib has been granted a notice of compliance with conditions (NOC/c) by Health Canada. This means that Health Canada has approved this medication to be marketed based on promising evidence of effectiveness, but additional results of studies are needed to verify its effectiveness. An NOC/c is used to allow access to products that are used to treat or prevent serious, life-threatening, or severely debilitating illness

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

How should I use this medication?

The usual recommended dose of crizotinib is 250 mg taken by mouth twice daily. Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on how you tolerate crizotinib. Swallow the capsules whole – do not crush, dissolve, or open the capsules. Crizotinib can be taken with or without food. Do not take crizotinib with grapefruit, starfruit, pomegranate, Seville oranges, or other similar fruits, since they may interact with crizotinib.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important that this medication be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 6 hours until the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature (between 15°C and 30°C) and keep it out of the reach of children. Do not touch a crushed or broken capsule.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Who should NOT take this medication?

Do not use crizotinib if you:

are allergic to crizotinib or any ingredients of the medication

have congenital (present at birth) long QT syndrome

What side effects are possible with this medication?

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

symptoms of liver problems (e.g., feeling more tired than usual, decreased appetite, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, stomach pain, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, itching, or bleeding or bruising more easily than normal)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of face or throat, hives, or difficulty breathing)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Abnormal heart rhythms: This medication can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Certain medications (e.g., sotalol, quinidine, thioridazine, chlorpromazine, droperidol, pimozide, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, mefloquine, pentamidine, arsenic trioxide, probucol, tacrolimus) can increase the risk of a type of abnormal heart rhythm called QT prolongation, and should not be used in combination with crizotinib. You are more at risk for this type of abnormal heart rhythm and its complications if you:

are female

are older than 65 years of age

have a family history of sudden cardiac death

have a history of heart disease or abnormal heart rhythms

have a slow heart rate

have congenital prolongation of the QT interval

have diabetes

have had a stroke

have low potassium, magnesium, or calcium levels

have nutritional deficiencies

If you have heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms, or are taking certain medications (e.g., verapamil, atazanavir), discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Blood clots: Crizotinib may cause formation of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) that can move to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). Blood clots can also cause a heart attack or a stroke. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have pain, redness, or swelling in your legs. If you develop chest pain and shortness of breath, seek immediate medical attention. Also seek immediate medical attention if you have sudden headache, dizziness, problems speaking, vision problems, or numbness or weakness, even if they are temporary. If you have had a blood clot in the past, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Eye problems: You may experience vision disturbances such as flashes of light, blurry vision, and double vision. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Do not drive or operate other machinery until you know that this medication does not affect your ability to perform these activities safely.

Fatigue and dizziness: Crizotinib can cause fatigue and dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know that this medication does not affect your ability to perform these activities safely.

Heart problems: This medication can decrease heart function, which may lead to heart failure or worsen symptoms of heart disease. If you have heart disease such as angina, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmia, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you experience symptoms of heart failure such as unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, or swelling of the feet and ankles, contact your doctor.

Kidney problems: If you have severe kidney problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Crizotinib may reduce liver function and can cause liver problems that can be severe. Your doctor will monitor your liver function with blood tests while you are taking this medication. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Lung inflammation: Lung inflammation (interstitial lung disease), causing difficulty breathing has occurred rarely in some people taking this medication. This complication can be serious and sometimes fatal. If you experience new or worsening shortness of breath or cough (with or without fever) at any time while you are taking crizotinib, contact your doctor immediately.

Nerve problems: People taking this medication may experience symptoms of neuropathy (nerve damage) such as numbness, prickling or tingling, burning, freezing, and throbbing or shooting pain. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy. Both men and women should use effective birth control (e.g., condoms, birth control pill) during treatment and for at least 90 days after treatment is finished. If you or your partner become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Male and female fertility may be affected by treatment with crizotinb. Discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if crizotinib passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Due to the potential for serious harm to a baby if they are exposed to this medication, breast-feeding mothers are advised not use this medication. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children less than 18 years of age.

What other drugs could interact with this medication?

There may be an interaction between crizotinib and any of the following:

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

stop taking one of the medications,

change one of the medications to another,

change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or

leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.